‘Always use an extra second to look twice’ – that’s the message after a pony and rider were struck by a hit-and-run driver on Friday (20th September), just 5 days after a safety awareness event promoting ‘Pass Wide & Slow’.
The driver, who claimed he couldn’t see due to the sun, handed himself into the Police later in the evening. However, he had still driven off despite an injured, bolting pony on the loose and its rider having fallen onto the road – the A3020.
The rider’s mother, Lisa Boynton, wrote the following to raise awareness for the PWAS (Pass Wide and Slow) campaign.
“Last night, I received a call from my daughter at 6 in the evening when it was completely light, whilst she was out riding on her own. My heart immediately dropped; it’s a mother’s worst nightmare to even think that your child’s been in an accident let alone with her horse.
“She said there had been an accident and that Lucy- her pony- had been injured. That’s was quite an understatement.
“She was riding along Shanklin road, 5 minutes away from home. As she only walked, a car sped behind her and hit Lucy’s right hind leg at speed. She must have skidded from the impact, causing her shoe to twist into her hoof, leaving her with possible tendon /ligament damage and a bruised frog on her front right leg. Above her hock on her back leg, the car – possibly the wing mirror – sliced her skin so severely to the point it was open to all the muscle beneath it, causing her to bleed profusely.
“After she was hit, my daughter Cara lost her balance, causing her to fall off, fortunately sustaining no injuries.
Article continues below this advertisement “Lucy bolted back down the main road and luckily took a right into a driveway, where Cara caught her. However, If she continued round the blind corner, who knows what could’ve happened to her.
“We were fortunate to have help to call the vet and the Police whilst also helping Lucy to calm down and attempt to stop the bleeding.
“Her leg was gushing with blood. However, she was in too much pain to allow us to put a compress on it to stop the blood. Luckily it wasn’t a dramatic amount.
“Once we brought the both of them home the vets arrived, staying for 3 hours. Lucy was sedated as she was so traumatised from the adrenaline and the pain.
“She needed stitches and was told to be put on box rest for a minimum of 6 weeks.
“My family are so grateful for Island Vectis Vets for helping our pony as she really was in a state .
“It really puts life into perspective when her cut was millimetres away from an artery, which could have lead to her death.”
Lisa Boynton has the following message for drivers and riders:
“The message I would like to be heard is the importance of road safety. Not just for riders but for drivers too. My daughter or her pony’s life yesterday could have been dramatically different, under different circumstances. So, always use an extra second to look twice at a crossing, wear you hi-vis or slow down if you can’t see due to the sunset (which was the driver’s reason from not seeing the horse).
“Even if you are wearing hi-vis and are in the correct space, you never know what might happen. Cara was completely in the right, wearing her hi-vis and far from any corner. However, accidents happen.
“You are never too cool to not wear hi-vis, even if it ruins your outfit, as it could possibly save your life.”
and has the driver been charged for a hit and run offence or driving without due care and attention, the car was being driven at speed despite the river being unable to see the road, disgusting behaviour.